Lewisham

Lewisham's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and health.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Lewisham increased by 11%, from just under 249,000 to 276,000.

The addition of just under 27,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Lewisham was home to, on average, 56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Living alone in Lewisham

The percentage of households with only a single-person fell in Lewisham, but at a slower rate than all other London boroughs, except Newham and Camden.

During this period, Lewisham overtook five local authority areas, including Wandsworth and Haringey, to become the London local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of single-person households.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households in Lewisham had only a single person, compared with 35% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple decreased from 10.0% to 9.8%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Lewisham

The number of people in Lewisham from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 10,000 in 2001 to just over 20,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.2% to 7.4% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 3.2% to 5.0%) and the average across England (from 1.3% to 2.3%).

The number of people in Lewisham from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 160,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011 (from 66% to 54%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 58,000 to just under 75,000 (from 23% to 27%).

Just under 26,000 people (5.2%) said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from about 13,000 in 2001 (9.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) in Lewisham increased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Lewisham at a faster rate than in nearby Southwark.

In Lewisham, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 49% in 2001 to 42% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Southwark decreased from 31% to 29%.

Across London, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 56% to 48%.

Private renting in Lewisham increased from 13% to 24%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 35% to 31%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across London

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Lewisham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Lewisham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Lewisham decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Lewisham, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Lewisham

The number of people in Lewisham that described themselves as Muslim increased from just over 11,000 in 2001 to about 18,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.6% to 6.4% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across London (from 8.5% to 12%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Lewisham that described themselves as Christian remained close to 150,000 between the last two censuses (from 61% to 53% of the population). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 51,000 to just over 75,000 (from 20% to 27%).

Just under 25,000 people (10%) did not state their religion, similar to the amount in 2001 (which at the time represented 8.9%)

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Lewisham increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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